History has embraced the Cœur de Béarn with passion! With its châteaux standing witness to conquests and royal presence, bastides from the Middle Ages and fortified villages show us the real character of this country.

Whether you are a family, couples or friends, find yourself a home from home: flats, guest houses, hotels, campsites, group accommodation or special accommodation. There is something for everyone and especially for all budgets. Cœur de Béarn welcomes you for a weekend or a longer stay.

Land of Jurançon wine but also of the Roussanne peach, duck, cheese and other delicacies, Cœur de Béarn offers delicious discoveries. Assiettes de Pays, Maîtres Restaurateurs and other small producers have forged a way of life infused with a sense of conviviality.

Conviviality and pleasure are always at the core of Cœur de Béarn. Traditions, local cuisine, gastronomy and music are a part of our daily lives. From Orthez to Monein, harvest parties, local festivities, classical music festivals and jazz concerts are but some of the many events that will enchant you throughout the seasons!

Béarn’s cultural highlights

Culture with a smile !

Here in Béarn, we take pride in our heritage and love to celebrate life. We have therefore created traditional events – such as Hestiv’Oc or Septembre en Béarn – to honour our culture. We are also proud to welcome an unmissable event that celebrates speed and intensity : the Grand Prix of Pau !

But let’s start with our traditions. The month of July hosts Hestiv’Oc, a festival that celebrates southern music and culture. Born in 2005, the festival has consistently developed to become what is now one of Aquitaine’s major summer events. During 4 days, over 300 artists celebrate the « cultura nosta » (i.e. our culture) both on stage and in the streets. Audiences are invited to attend over 60 free shows in a festive atmosphere, filled with culture and tradition. A celebration of Bearnais and Occitan culture.

- The Garburade is an (international!) Garbure championship. It takes place on Saturday, September 1st, in Oloron-Sainte-Marie.

- The Fête du Sel celebrates the tradition of salt in Salies-de-Béarn, on the 2nd weekend in September.

- The Fête des bergers in Aramits celebrates the return of the summer flocks, on the 3rd weekend in September.

- La Foire au fromage, the cheese festival in Laruns (Ossau Valley), takes place on the 1st weekend in October.

- Siros has its very own festival: singing, dancing, story-telling and traditional Bearnais theatre take over the town on the last weekend in September.

- The Fête du Maïs, in Laàs, is the corn-themed celebration you won’t want to miss on the 2nd weekend in October.

Let’s move onto another important event, one that celebrates speed! The Grand Prix of Pau stems from a long tradition of car-racing in the South West of France which goes all the way back to 1899 ! The event owes its reputation to its urban circuit, unchanged since 1935 and considered by many pilots as tricky and of a high-difficulty level !